Epilogue

Nick paced back and forth on the porch of the two story home that he and Elizabeth had bought just outside of Smoot Wyoming. It had needed a lot of work only, since it was livable, they'd moved in when they purchased the ranch. "Uncle" Paul, along with a few of their new 'neighbors' had helped Nick make the many repairs needed while Elizabeth, "Aunt" Bea and a few of the neighbors' wives had worked on the inside. Thank goodness they'd finished the work before the first, huge, blizzard hit. It made him miss California for sure, only he'd still adjusted and could honestly say he couldn't say he would change anything.

Nick looked for the thousandth time at the telegram in his hand. Had it really been two years since he'd seen any of his family? It seemed so much longer. Now…Jarrod, Heath and Victoria were due to arrive any minute. He had dreamed of this day for months on end, but now since it was finally here-Nick was half afraid he would wake up and find it had all been a dream. He couldn't help but sigh as the contents of the last few letters Jarrod, Heath and Victoria had each sent ran through his mind. For the most part the letters they'd been exchanging had brought a huge amount of peace to him and his wife. Of course, it hurt that Nick always had to dictate his letters to Elizabeth. He would have loved to write a letter with his own hand, but they weren't taking any risks. Also, except for the first letter, they'd been careful never to come right out and admit blood relation. His family's letters had been the same way. If, for some odd reason, someone had read the letters, they'd have words that portrayed a strong friendship, only that was it.

Also, the fact that they never had a letter from his sister-as she still thought his final resting place to be at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean hurt like nothing else could. A part of him had been angry when he learned that his family had kept his true whereabouts from Audra; however, most of him knew his brothers and their mother were right. Bless her heart, he hoped someday Audra truly grew up. He just prayed it wasn't going to take a repeat of history to do it. That is, he didn't want to know she'd truly grown up only after putting herself and those she loved through a great deal of turmoil. 'Someday, I'll explain, sis.' Nick stopped pacing. 'If life permits it, I will explain.'

Nick might have started pacing again only he caught the glimpse of a surrey carrying two passengers, along with a man riding alongside the surrey. He flew down the steps and over to the gate that stood in front of his and Elizabeth's home, opening it the second he reached it-something he couldn't do fast enough.

As soon as they were through the gate, Jarrod stopped the surrey. He would have helped Victoria out only Nick was already standing beside the carriage. "I'm sorry, Mother." Nick hugged his mother the moment she was standing on the ground.

"As I said in my last letter, you were forgiven a long time ago." Victoria returned the hug. "Anything that needs to be said can be said as soon as we sit down together. After that, the subject is never to be brought up again. Where is Elizabeth?" The fact that her daughter-in-law wasn't with Nick made Victoria wonder if something terrible had happened. That fear vanished as Nick started smiling from ear to ear.

"She's busy in the house." Nick turned and started walking with his mother and brothers towards his home.

His silly grin and the spark in his eyes would have made them think that Elizabeth had had a baby—if it wasn't for the fact that none of their letters had contained any news of an impending birth. Then again… "Your last telegram said there would be a surprise waiting for us here." Victoria stopped in front of the steps leading up to the porch that wrapped itself around every side of her son's home. "You didn't keep any news from us, did you?"

Nick, who knew what his mother was thinking, shook his head. "No, but you see there was…" he started to explain only to have the front door open and two small identical looking boys who appeared to be around four bolt out. They were going so fast they would have run off the porch only Nick stretched out both his arms and grabbed the children before they could escape one very irritated Elizabeth-who appeared in the door way holding an infant that couldn't be a day over eight months in her arms. There was flour all over the bottom half of the infant's dress. Needless to say, three set of eyes went straight to Nick-shock was in all of them.

"This is Frederick Turner Gyver." He held onto the squirming child under his left arm. "This," he said as he looked at the other boy who was not moving in the least, "is his twin, Issac Turner Gyver." He confirmed the twins had just turned four, and then nodded towards the infant in Elizabeth's arms. "That is their sister, Anastasia Turner Gyver-Anna for short. She's seven and a half months old." He went on to explain that the children's parents had died-the mother giving birth to Anna and the father in a stampede a few months later. "We have no children so," Nick put his adopted sons on the porch and gently pushed them towards Elizabeth, "we took them in. The adoption became official just before I wrote to you. We talked about adopting another one-we really want at least four children-but decided to wait. These three are a handful as it is." That statement earned him some laughter from his family.

A joyous light had filled Victoria's eyes and her smile spread from ear to ear when she'd heard the news. Though, it was only after the laughter subsided that she exclaimed, "I'm a grandmother!"

Jarrod and Heath looked at each other and then Nick. "Congratulations!" Heath spoke up, "Only you know we get to spoil them any time we visit, right?"

Nick's smile diminished slightly as Elizabeth disappeared in the house with the children. His family didn't have to ask why. Though, before they could say anything, Nick was talking. "We told the boys dear friends of ours were coming. We told them to think of you as family, and that they could call Mother 'Grandma Barkley' and the two of you by Uncle…" he stopped and sighed. How he wished things could have been different. "I'm sorry." He glanced towards the house. "Under the circumstances, we didn't feel we had much of a choice. Children talk…" his voice trailed off and an awkward silence filled the air.

Finally, Jarrod-who saw no need to discuss subject that would take them nowhere, broke the silence and asked Nick if he was going to give the family a tour of the house.

"Wondered when you'd ask that," Nick chuckled and led his family inside.

Life might not be what it could be, only it was still good. Nick was grateful for that. Though, if truth be told, he was keeping the hopes for a fourth child and his dream of taking his family back to Stockton alive in his heart.

Neither the hope or the dream would take place until another eight years had passed. Then, shortly after Elizabeth gave birth to their 'miracle' baby, Nick received word from Jarrod that Cass Hyatt had died in prison. Upon receiving that news, Nick and Elizabeth wasted no time in returning to Stockton where he took the last name of Barkley back. Once that was done, Nick renewed his marriage vows with Elizabeth and had Jarrod file papers legally changing the children's last name to Barkley as well. Through the years, the story was retold more than once…until the story that Stockton residents would hear was more fiction than fact.

It never bothered Nick and his family as-for the most part- they'd simply laugh, roll their eyes and ask something akin to "What version of this story do you think we'll hear today?"